Editorial: To Her Door

14 August 2017Amy Hetherington

Editorial: To Her Door

Every second Friday, all around the country, we launch a new edition of The Big Issue over breakfast. It’s a true highlight. In Sydney, vendor David fires up the BBQ while fellow vendor Matthew entertains on the piano; Brisbane also BBQs eggs or sausages and rolls out a group quiz; Canberra has coffee and chats; Adelaide dishes up a full breakfast of eggs and veg; Perth gets together and dines at a round table; and in Melbourne it’s usually toasties and fruit or, if we’re really lucky, Nutella croissants.

At a recent launch, one of our vendors told me I looked tired. Truth be told, I was puffy-eyed after crying over a short story I’d read on the train on my way in. It was one of the 562 pieces submitted for our annual Fiction Edition, which we’re excited to bring you next fortnight (books editor Thuy On has the scoop in this edition). The piece was a heart-aching love story (and, yes, it made the final cut), but I also admit I’m a big sook. I tear up at music, movies, books and even toilet paper commercials.

There is one song in particular that always makes me weep, and that’s Paul Kelly’s ‘To Her Door’. The lyrics about love and redemption get me every time (excuse me while I blubber along to the film clip on YouTube). Kelly has been Australia’s unofficial poet laureate, capturing our nation and her people, for almost 40 years and 23 studio albums. Contributing editor Michael Epis spoke with Kelly for our cover story.

We’re also celebrating our Street Socceroos, who will be representing Australia at the Homeless World Cup in Norway later this month. Contributing editor Anastasia Safioleas kicks off the coverage by bringing you the lowdown on our seven players, who all participate in The Big Issue’s Street Soccer program around the country. If you’d like to wish our players well, please send us your letters of support or follow all the #HomelessWorldCup action on our social media.